Method of treating livestock footbath solutions

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The addition of an alkali metal bisulfate to a livestock footbath solution improves the effectiveness of the solution in preventing and/or treating bacterial diseases of the hoof.
Any type of alkali metal bisulfate can be added to the solution.
Preferably, the alkali metal bisulfate is sodium bisulfate, potassium bisulfate, or a mixture thereof.
The sodium bisulfate is a sodium salt of sulfuric acid generally expressed as NaHSO.
sub.
4 (CAS Reg.
No.
7681-38-1).
It is also known as sodium acid sulfate, sodium hydrogen sulfate, and bisulfate of soda.
One suitable type of sodium bisulfate is the food grade sodium acid sulfate sold by Jones-Hamilton Co.
, 30354 Tracy Road, Walbridge, Ohio 43465.
It has been certified as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe), and it meets Food Chemicals Codex, 4th Edition Specifications.
The sodium acid sulfate consists of crystalline solid particles having a spherical shape with an average diameter of from about 0.
03 mm to about 1 mm, typically about 0.
75 mm.
The product includes sodium bisulfate in an amount of from about 91.
5% to about 97.
5% by weight (typically about 93%), and sodium sulfate in an amount of from about 2.
5% to about 8.
5% by weight (typically about 7%).
However, sodium bisulfates that are not food grade can also be used in the invention.
The potassium bisulfate for use in the invention is a potassium salt of sulfuric acid generally expressed as KHSO.
sub.
4 (CAS Reg.
No.
7646-93-7).
It is also known as potassium acid sulfate and potassium hydrogen sulfate.
The alkali metal bisulfate preferably contains less than about 0.
01% heavy metals by weight, and more preferably less than about 0.
003%.
The low level of heavy metals reduces environmental concerns of disposing of the footbath solution.
The Jones-Hamilton sodium acid sulfate is low in impurities, containing less than 0.
003% heavy metals as Pb, less than about 0.
05% water-insoluble substances, and less than 0.
003% selenium.
Preferably, the alkali metal bisulfate is not more than mildly irritating to the hooves and skin of the livestock